Ultrasonic evaluation of therapeutic response in tumors: its values and implications

Not only may ultrasound demonstrate the presence of a tumor mass at various sites in the abdomen, but it may also be useful in measuring the size of the mass. The rate of tumor growth or regression was followed by ultrasound in 28 patients with ovarian carcinoma undergoing chemotherapy. The ability of ultrasound to make precise measurements of tumor size is discussed, and the value of these measurements is explored. This quantification may be valuable in the assessment of therapeutic response in pelvic cancer, and the technique may be applicable to other intra-abdominal mass lesions.